Tips to Survive Finals

By Kristin DiMaggio on December 6, 2013

1. Space out your studying.
The last thing you want to do is to cram, especially if you’re cramming for multiple classes. Take some time everyday to study for a certain class, but don’t go overboard; you don’t want to burn yourself out before you even take your exams.
2. If you need to, caffeinate.
Caffeine can be a godsend during finals. One thing to avoid is a caffeine overload. It generally takes about 15-20 minutes for caffeine to kick in, so drink your caffeinated beverages accordingly.
3. SLEEP IS IMPORTANT.
Sleep deprivation has a plethora of negative side effects, and as college students, we feel as if we’ve encountered all of them at least once. It makes focusing harder, cuts our attention span and cuts our ability to receive information. Adding copious amounts of studying to your already sleep deprived state of mind is almost counter-productive. Plan your studying and sleeping accordingly. If you need an afternoon recharge, drink a cup of coffee before taking a 15 minute nap. You’ll wake up refreshed and ready to finish out the day’s studies.
4. Take study breaks.
Studying for a whole day straight is not only tiring but somewhat detrimental to the learning process. The brain needs breaks to perform well, just as an athlete needs a break when training. Taking a walk can be a good break, as it reduces your stress because your focus is on one simple task, therefore, letting your thoughts flow freely.
5. Remember to eat.
Many students forget to eat due to studying, only to treat themselves to a big meal to hold them over for the rest of the day. Eating throughout the day is important for proper brain function. Stay away from empty snack foods, as the lack of nutritional value only briefly combats hunger. Raw fruits and veggies make for great snacks, and you can even find them on campus.
6. Don’t panic.
This is much easier said than done, but it is one of the most important things to remember. Just as every other stress-inducing event has passed in your life, this will also be over sooner than you think. Remember that taking productive steps in preparing for finals is the best thing you can do. Stressing and panicking is not.